THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130556
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 80 lines
John L. Pazour, city manager of Aurora, Colo., has accepted the job as Chesapeake's city manager, according to officials in both cities.
A formal announcement was made Thursday in Aurora, where Pazour has served since 1990.
Chesapeake's formal announcement will come at noon today. A city press release said only that a ``major personnel action'' would be revealed, and officials would not comment. Pazour was flying to Chesapeake Thursday and will be here for the announcement.
``While I am very excited about this move to Chesapeake, I leave a job that has been the best of my career,'' Pazour said in a news release issued in Aurora. ``I have enjoyed working with the Aurora City Council and with the very competent city staff, but I couldn't pass up this new opportunity.''
Pazour submitted his resignation to Aurora Mayor Paul E. Tauer on Wednesday and will continue to serve until he starts in Chesapeake on Jan. 1, Aurora officials said.
Pazour signed a five-year contract extension with Aurora last spring. The contract, however, allows him to leave his position after 90 days notice.
``It's a shame John is leaving, because he's been a real asset for Aurora,'' said Aurora City Councilman John Paroske. ``We're very sorry to see him go.''
Pazour has been the choice of the Chesapeake council for some time, city officials said. The delay in announcing his acceptance of the job came because of salary negotiations.
Pazour will make $115,000 annually in Chesapeake, a figure believed to be the most ever paid to a Chesapeake city manager. His predecessor, James W. Rein, was paid $108,000 when he was fired last year. Pazour is currently making $110,000 in Aurora.
Pazour, the 52-year-old city manager of the rapidly growing Denver suburb of 250,000, confirmed last month that he was a finalist for the position. According to city officials, Pazour and one other candidate were the final choices.
The unsuccessful finalist was Michael A. Bierman, city manager for Fresno, Calif., according to Chesapeake officials. Bierman has been actively seeking work outside of Fresno since 1993, after the local city council voted to switch from a city manager-based government to a strong mayor-based government.
Pazour is popular in Aurora, where he is seen by the 11-member City Council as an expert at mastering budgets and growth control, both hot issues in Chesapeake.
When he confirmed being a finalist for the Chesapeake job, Pazour said the beauty of Chesapeake intrigued him. ``There was a real challenge of how to manage growth in a way that does not damage the beauty of the area,'' he said.
Pazour was promoted to city manager in Aurora in January 1990 after serving as deputy city manager, where he oversaw the city's finances and computer systems.
He has also worked as a divisional vice president for the Beaver Creek Resort and as director of corporate information systems for Vail Associates, the owners of the Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts, two of Colorado's largest ski venues.
Pazour has also worked as deputy secretary for income maintenance for Pennsylvania and in various positions for the International City Management Association in Washington, D.C.
He has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in public management from Carnegie-Mellon University.
Pazour lives in Aurora with his wife, Cassie, and has two sons - Josh, a student at St. John's College in Santa Fe, N.M.; and Jason, who resides and works in Denver after graduating from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo.
Chesapeake City Hall has been without a full-time city manager since Oct. 17, 1995, when the city council voted 7-2 to fire Rein, who had served since 1987, longer than any other Chesapeake city manager.
Assistant City Manager Clarence V. Cuffee has been serving as interim city manager. Cuffee never applied for the full-time position but was being pushed for the job by the local business community, according to city officials. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
John L. Pazour, city manager of Aurora, Colo., follows James W.
Rein, who was fired after serving longer than anyone in the job.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE CITY MANAGER by CNB